Bumi minorities need new grouping
Posted on 26. Dec, 2004 by KDCA Web Admin in Press
A special body needs to be set up to look after the economic welfare and
interests of the Bumiputera minorities in Sabah and Sarawak from the
Federal Government point of view.
Making the suggestion, KadazanDusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Datuk Dr. Makin Marcus Mojigoh said it is imperative to have such body
so as to look into the low performance of both communities in the two states.
“Maybe the special body can be set up under any government ministries, departments, board or agencies to care for the Bumiputera minorities since their participation in
commerce and industries is very low and the number of them in entrepreneurial sector is negligible.”
“The situation is critical and it is necessary to have such special body that could assist them in identifying the existing problems and find ways to improve their involvement in commerce and industries sectors,” he said.
He added the Bumiputera minorities comprise about 10 per cent or 2.5 million of the Malaysian population, which includes among others, the KadazanDusun, Dayaks and
other disadvantaged minority ethnic groups such as the indigenous community in the Peninsular.
Mojigoh said this following a press conference, here, Friday, on a jointly organised occasion of ‘Bumiputera Minorities Economic Congress (BMEC) by KCCI and Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), to be held at Dewan Tun Ismail, Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur from Jan 7 – 8, next year.
The congress is aimed at providing a forum for the minorities in both States to come up with constructive ideas on how they can help themselves, while at the same time supporting the Government in finding ways to create greater opportunities for the communities to take part in commerce and industries.
He said the congress would be a forum for both communities to enlighten the Government of their current low level economic achievement and to enable the Government to understand, appreciate and assist both communities.
In addition, it is also aimed at proactively providing actionable input to the Government by translating existing broad policies and strategies affecting the Bumiputera minorities into specific effective actions for inclusion and implementation in the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has consented to grace the first ever official opening and deliver a keynote address. Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri
Musa Aman and Sarawak counterpart Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud are also expected.
“Through the congress, we hope these two chambers can become as a bridge between the Government and the Bumiputera minorities.
“Also, having such special body will also help our nation achieve its Vision 2020 and Government goal to have a Business, Commerce and Industry Society (BCIS).
“The Congress will be looking at a possible consideration for our people to be considered for a distribution of 25 per cent in corporate equities, Local Purchase Order (LPO), government contracts, privatisation of companies, government franchise and placing them in government-linked companies and in incubating programmes,” he said.
Two papers would be presented for discussion. The first is a position paper expressing the two communities’ experience, entitled “Bumiputera Minorities Participation in Commerce and Industry: Progress, Opportunities and Challenges” which will be presented by two prominent speakers from the KadazanDusun and Dayak communities.
The second paper entitled “National Policies, Current Status and Future Challenges in Promoting Bumiputera Minorities’ Participation in Commerce and Industry” would be
presented by the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’ Department.
Source: Daily Express Sabah, Dec 26th 2006
